Insulated rail-joint.



J. A. BODKIN INSULATED RAIL JOINT.

I APPLIIOATION FILED 1mm, 1911.

Patented Sept. 9,1913.

I INVENTOR LOLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH CO..WASHI NG10N. D. C.

.J'QHN A. BODKIN, ornnw YORK, N. Y.

INSULATED RAIL-JOINT.

Specification ofsLetters Patent.

PatentedSept. 9, 1. 1.3,

-App1icationfi1ed April 3, 1911. Serial No. 618,575.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, JOHN AVBODKIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, county of New York, State f New York, have inventedacertain new and useful Improvement in Insulated Rail- Joints, and declare the followino to be a full, clear,and exact description of the same, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention'has for-its object to produce a simple and eflicient rail joint and one particularly adapted for connecting two rail ends together in such a manner that they will be insulated from each other.

The various features of novelty whereby my invention is characterized will herein after be pointed out with particularity in the claims but, for a full understanding of my invention and of itsolo'ject and advantages, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section taken through one of my improved joints, looking down from a horizontal plane passing through the bolt holes; and Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the joint.

Referring to the drawing, 1 and 2 represent two meeting rail ends and 3 a post of insulating material lying between the rail ends and insulating them from each other.

4 and 5 represent heavy U-shaped bolts having comparatively long yokes and short arms. One arm of each of the bolts is adapted to be secured to the web of one of the rails while the other arm is connected to the web of the opposite rail. The yokes of the two bolts differ in lengths so that one of the bolts may lie wholly between the arms of the other; thus preventing interference between the bolts and giving two points of connection for each rail end. In the preferred arrangement a portion of each of the arms of the bolts is reduced as indicated at 6, thus forming a shOulder 7 against which the rail may be clamped. The extreme outer end of each of the reduced portions is screwthreaded, as at 8, for the reception of a nut 9. WVhen the reduced portions are inserted through properly spaced holes in the webs of the rails, and the nuts are tightened,

cent ties, 18 and 19.

the webs of the rails are clamped between.

the nuts and the shoulders 7. Upon each of the reduced members 6 is a short sleeve of insulating material 10, and surrounding these sleeves are insulating washers 11 and 12 adapted to engage with the sides of the rail webs. Upon each of the sleeves, be-

tween the two washers, is a metal bushing 13 of a length equalto the thickness ofxthe rail. webs, and the bolt holes 14 in the rail webs aremade large enough to receive the bushings. I also prefer to arrange ifnetal washers 15' and 16outs'ide of the insulating washers '11 and 12, thus protectingthe-insulating washers from abrasion due to direct contact with-the shoulders 7 and with the nuts v9. 7 I

' The splice bars are arranged symmetrically with respect to the juncture between the two rail-ends,-0ne splice barfbeing arranged ononeside of the rails and the other on the opposite side. Thus it will be seen that my improved joint will withstand all of the stresses which come upon the rail both in a lateral and in the vertical direction and at the same time, where the insu-' lation which I have described is employed,

the rails are insulated from each other so that electric currents cannot flow from one to the other. It is necessary that a joint of this kind be supported from beneath and therefore I place one of the cross ties directly beneath the juncture between the rail ends asindicated at 17. The rails are firmly spiked to the tie 17 and also to the two adj a- I prefer to use two spikes upon each of these three ties at each side of the rails. In the drawings I have shown the spikes as taking the form of screw spikes 20; but while this is the preferred type, I do not limit myself to screw spikes but intend to use any suitable fastenings which have the requisite strength.

while I have illustrated and described only a single preferred form of my invention, and one combining all of the various novel features of my invention, I donot desire to be limited to a device embodying all such features in combination wit-h each other or the particular structural details thus illustrated and described; but intend to cover all forms and arrangements which fall within the terms employed in the definitions of my invention constituting the appended claims' securing the bars to the rails, the interme diate portions of each bar being clear of the rails.

3. A pair of cooperating splice bars comprising two U-shapecl bolts difiering from each other in the distance between their arms.

4:- In a rail joint, in combination with th meeting rail ends, of U-shaped bolts arranged on opposite sides of the rails and each having its arms secured to the two rail ends, one of said bolts having a shorter yoke than the other.

5. In a rail joint, in combination with the meeting rail ends, of U-shaped bolts arranged on opposite sides of the rails and each having its arms secured to the two rail ends, one of said bolts having a shorter yoke than the other, and both of said bolts being arranged symmetrically with respect to the plane of juncture between the rail ends.

6. A splice bar for an insulated oint comprising a U-shaped bolt having the outer portion of each of its arms reduced, and a short insulating" sleeve on each of said reduced portions.

7. A splice bar for an insulated joint comprising a U-shaped bolt having the outer portion of each of its arms reduced, a short insulating sleeve on each of said reduced portions, and a short metallic protective bushing surrounding each of said sleeves.

8.'In an insulated rail joint, the combination with the meeting rail ends, of insulation between the said ends, a U-shaped bolt, a portion of each of the arms of said bolt being reduced to form a member passing through the web of one of the rails and a shoulder for hearing against the said web,

. a short insulating sleeve on each of said reduced portions, nuts screwed upon said reduced portions beyond the ends of said sleeves, and insulation between said shoulders and the rail webs and between the nuts and the rail webs.

. 9. In a rail joint, the combination with the meeting rail ends, of two splice bars each mechanically connected at its ends to and insulated from said rail ends and having its intermediate portion clear of the rails.

In testimony whereof, I sign this specification in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN A. BODKIN.

Witnesses:

WM. F. FRENDENREICH, RUBY V. BRYDGES.

1 copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, I). C. 

